(L): Joyce Frame’s service in the U.S. Navy shaped her nursing career; (R): WVU School of Nursing alumna Joyce Frame poses with her great-niece, Callie Mardis, at a Pittsburgh Pirates game. Mardis plans to attend WVU, where Frame recently established a scholarship for out-of-state nursing students.
For Joyce Frame, West Virginia University has always felt like home, even before she became a student. That lifelong connection recently led to a $50,000 planned gift to establish a namesake scholarship for out-of-state undergraduate students at the WVU School of Nursing.
“This scholarship will support talented students from across state lines as they pursue their Bachelor of Science in Nursing," Tara Hulsey, WVU School of Nursing Dean and E. Jane Martin Endowed Professor, said. "We are incredibly grateful to Joyce for giving back to her alma mater and making a positive impact on our students."
Raised in the Pittsburgh area, Frame grew up visiting family just outside Morgantown, where her father was born and raised. Trips to see her grandmother near Star City and walks around campus made WVU a familiar presence long before she ever applied. With deep family ties to the University, WVU was a natural choice when Frame decided to pursue a career in nursing.
As an out-of-state student, Frame’s path to the WVU School of Nursing required persistence. She applied to the program after her first year but was not initially accepted due to the limited number of out-of-state spots available.
Determined, she stayed an extra year, reapplied, and earned her place in the program.
“It worked out okay for me,” Frame said. “I loved my time at West Virginia. The School of Nursing was great, and I felt like I received an excellent education.”
Frame graduated from WVU in 1981 and went on to a diverse and impactful nursing career. She began in oncology at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh before answering an unexpected call that would shape her future: service as a nurse in the U.S. Navy. Frame spent three years on active duty at a Naval Hospital, followed by reserve service, while working in critical care, oncology and intensive care units across the country.
Her nursing career was both demanding and meaningful, shaped by the strong foundation she received at WVU.
“The education I received at West Virginia University has been invaluable in every step of my career,” she said.
Now living in Cincinnati, Frame’s recent gift ensures future students will have access to the same opportunities she once did. The Joyce Viola Frame Nursing Scholarship will be created through a $50,000 endowment gift in her estate plan to provide annual support for students.
The future scholarship is designated specifically for non-resident undergraduate students enrolled in WVU School of Nursing programs. By focusing on out-of-state students, the fund will help address the additional costs associated with non-resident tuition while recognizing the achievement of students who earn admission to the highly competitive program from beyond West Virginia.
“I knew how difficult it was to get into the School of Nursing as an out-of-state student,” Frame said. “And tuition is higher, too. I thought it would be nice if someone who worked hard to earn that spot could get a little extra help.”
Through her generosity, Frame is honoring her Mountaineer roots, her nursing career, and her belief in the transformative power of education, ensuring that future out-of-state nursing students can find opportunity, support, and a sense of belonging at WVU.
Frame’s planned gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.